Coco Before Chanel, 2009 (Grade B)

Director: Anne Fontaine
Awards: Nominated for some
Starring: Andrey Tautou, Benoit Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain, Emmanuelle Devos, Regis Royer, Etinne Bartholomeus, Yan Duffas, Fabien Behar, Roch Leibovici

sez says: lovely to look at-- interesting to think about.  Here is a story we do not often get to see. A woman sleeps with powerful men to gain security and

eventually a position of power for herself.  Not new in reality--but not a story that often is told without the woman having to suffer for her sins.  So BRAVA for a little truth telling--and for making it such a lovely movie to watch too.
 But, there is a point that isn't discussed explicitly, and which I am wondering about.  Coco is shown to be a major force in changing in women's clothing fashion: from the turn of the century 'all trussed up buxom woman' to the lose fitting clothing ' mystery of what is underneath' style that she introduced.  That is presented as being a liberating transformation--from tight constraining garb to relaxed comfortable--(and less gaudy styles). But did that not also start the move toward women's mania with being ever and ever thinner? Moving us on to anorexia and the unobtainable 10" waist that a woman would have to have to look like a Barbie Doll? If you are trying to hide your body under your clothes..than it might be best to not have too much body. The 'mystery body-French Style' works for naturally small thin women (like Coco) --but it might not be so healthy for full bodied women.